He who Protects the Transforming Heroines from The Shadows - Chapter 3 - Female God Soleil

The day after he saved Youka and Miya, Kijou Eito had his head down on his school desk since morning.

Today, he wasn’t in the mood to read; he just wanted to sleep, even a little. After transforming for the first time yesterday, he realized his entire body was sore with muscle pain.

“…Tch… damn it, that hurts.”

Damn that shitty goddess. If she knew transforming would cause muscle pain, she should’ve said so from the start. Eito was never in any sports club—he’s just a regular member of the go-home club. That is to say, he’d never had this kind of intense muscle soreness before.

Still, Eito had some idea of why his body hurt. Most likely, his own physical body couldn’t keep up with the specs of his transformed form as Spriggan.

Spriggan’s enhanced physical abilities were granted through his outfit. By wearing that outfit, Eito gained supernatural strength and agility.

On top of that, the long-brimmed hat had perception-obscuring effects. Even people who knew Eito well wouldn’t recognize him when he was wearing it. The golden eyes granted him dramatically improved vision, among other abilities.

Well, all of that was according to Soleil, anyway.

While he was mulling that over, the chime rang. Eito lifted his head and absentmindedly looked out the window. As expected, Youka and Miya had just barely made it through the school gates. Once again, 34-year-old single teacher Ueda Katsuo watched them longingly and sadly. Hang in there, old man.

Watching the girls rush toward the school entrance, Eito thought to himself:

(They’re probably dying to know more about Spriggan, whether they like it or not. Which means the next thing they’ll do is—)

『They’ll come ask me directly.』

“…Sigh.”

He couldn’t help but sigh at how accustomed he’d become over the past month. Normally, hearing a voice inside your head would send anyone into a panic. A regular person would probably go to a hospital. But sadly, Eito had grown numb to such wonder.

(Fine, I’ll bite. What do you want?)

Since homeroom had already started, he couldn’t talk to Soleil aloud like usual, so he replied mentally. Apparently, Soleil—being a goddess—could communicate via telepathy.

『Oh my, am I not allowed to speak to you unless I have a reason?』
(You’re creeping em out, you hag.)
『HAAH?! That’s it—I’m actually mad now, Eito! Calling a goddess a “hag”!? This is the first time in my life I’ve been treated with such disrespect! And haven’t you seen what I look like!? I’m clearly a youthful maiden! Come on, I demand an apology! Say I’m cute! Right now! Say I’m cuuute!!』
(…)
『Eitooooooooooooooooooo!!』

Eito ignored Soleil until class started. At least she had the decency not to interrupt once lessons began, so she seemed to have some self-control. She was probably still sulking, though.

♦

After school.
On the way home from school, Youka was, unusually, deep in thought. She normally didn’t think too much about things, but today her mind was still preoccupied with something that had started bothering her since yesterday.

No—more precisely, ever since they met that person.

(Who is he, really…? He said his name was Spriggan, but…)

Yes, the person occupying her thoughts was the boy who saved them yesterday—Spriggan.

(He looked about the same age as us, right…? But his eyes were golden—maybe he’s a foreigner? But then again, his Japanese was way too fluent… Maybe colored contacts? But why would anyone do that…?)

From yesterday until now, Youka had been going in circles like this, thinking about Spriggan. For some reason, she just couldn’t get him out of her head. His beautiful golden eyes and that handsome face were burned into her memory.

(C-Could this… could this be what they call love…? No, I mean, sure, I’ve wanted to fall in love, but would it happen this fast!? W-Wait, is this… love at first sight!?)

Her short hair swayed side to side as her face turned red. She’d been like this all day since yesterday.

“—ka. Youka, hello?!”
“Fueh!? Wh-What, Miya?”

Youka jumped a little at the sudden shout of her name and turned toward Miya walking beside her.

“‘What?’ she says. Geez. I’ve been calling your name this whole time and you didn’t react at all. I was getting worried.”

Miya gave her a sulking look, narrowed eyes and all. With her usual cool expression, it looked like she was genuinely angry. Youka, however, had known her for a long time and she knew it was just an act.

“Ahaha, sorry, sorry. I was just thinking about something.”
“That’s rare. You’re always so full of energy—never the type to get stuck in your head.”

Miya’s eyes widened with genuine surprise. Youka, feeling a little annoyed by that reaction, pouted as she responded.

“Hey, come on, Miya! I do think about stuff sometimes, okay!? What do you even take me for!?”
“I mean, it’s you, Youka. The hardest you’ve ever mulled about is what to get from the cafeteria. You always make decisions in an instant.”
“Ugh… W-Well, yeah, but still…”

Youka had no comeback, because Miya wasn’t wrong. Miya saw her expression and smirked. “See?” she said, then looked at Youka and continued.

“So? What were you thinking about?”
“…Um, well, that Spriggan guy.”

Youka confessed honestly what she’d been thinking about, but she turned to Miya with a sheepish smile, trying to hide the whirlwind of feelings swirling in her chest.

“Aah, yeah, he is on my mind too. But I know his type, he is definitely, surely, absolutely, the nasty kind of guy!!”
“Ahaha… yeah, you were kinda mad at him yesterday.”

Miya had clearly felt like she was being played on by Spriggan during their short exchange, and that seemed to irritate her a little.

“Oh! That’s right, Youka, let’s go ask Soleil-sama about him!”

Miya suddenly lit up, as if she’d had a great idea.

“E-Eeh!? Soleil-sama!?”
“Yup! Remember? When we first met her, she told us how to reach her! Alright! Let’s go right now!
“…Yeah, you’re right! Let’s go ask Soleil-sama!”

Youka accepted Miya’s suggestion, and the two girls turned to face each other and exchanged a cheerful high five with bright smiles.

♦

In order to meet Soleil, one needed a place where they wouldn’t draw attention, so the two of them headed toward a quiet back alley in a residential area. The reason they knew about the place was because they sometimes went there to see an adorable stray cat that lived nearby.

“But what if Soleil-sama doesn’t even know who Spriggan is? Is it really okay to go see her just for that?”

On the way there, Youka muttered uncertainly. Miya, walking beside her, laughed lightly and replied.

“It’s fine, it’s fine! Even if she doesn’t know, then oh well. It’s not like Soleil-sama is the type of goddess who’d get mad over something like that, right?”
“Yeah, you’re right. Sorry, I guess I’ve been feeling kinda timid lately.”
“Weirdly enough, yeah. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so hesitant about anything before.”

Miya looked at Youka with a puzzled expression. And indeed, anyone who knew Youka would think something was off. She was acting completely unlike her usual self.

“T-That’s not true at all!! L-Look, I’m totally fine! Ah, we turn here into the alley, right? Let’s hurry up and see Soleil-sama! —Whoa!?”
“Tch, that bastard. Summoning me out of nowh—hm!?”

Trying to shake off Miya’s suspicions, Youka dashed around the corner—only to run straight into someone coming out of the alley.

The impact knocked Youka to the ground, landing on her butt.

“Oww… Ah, I’m so sorry!”

She looked up at the person she’d bumped into. Thankfully, the other person hadn’t fallen over.

The person she ran into seemed to be a student from their school. His face was obscured by his bangs, which were far too long. Youka didn’t recognize the boy, who was likely peering at her from under all that hair.

“You’re… I see. —Be more careful next time.”

The boy with the long bangs glanced between Youka’s face and the alley he had just come from, muttered something under his breath, and gave a brief warning before walking off without another word.

“Ah, okay…”

Youka replied meekly and stood up. As she watched the boy walk away, she couldn’t shake the strange feeling that she’d seen him somewhere before—even though she was sure she hadn’t.

“You okay, Youka? Geez, I know it was your fault for not watching where you were going, but wasn’t he kind of cold about it?”

Miya, also watching the boy’s back, pouted with displeasure.

“No, it really was my fault. More importantly, Miya—do you know who that was?”
“Hmm? He looked like a student from Fuura High, but I don’t think I know him.”

Apparently, Miya didn’t recognize him either. The two of them shook it off and stepped into the alley.

“Alright, so… if I remember correctly—”

After making sure no one was around, Miya pulled a bracelet with a blue gemstone from her school bag and put it on her left wrist.

“Come on, Youka.”
“Okay.”

Youka took out a bracelet with a red gemstone and strapped it to her right wrist.

“You remember the procedure, Youka?”
“Don’t worry. Three seconds, right, Miya?”
“Got it.”

Youka grabbed Miya’s left hand, and Miya took hold of Youka’s right. Holding each other’s hands like a handshake, they spoke in unison:

““The Lightguide Princesses call upon thee. Guide us, O Goddess of Light. Open—the Gate of Light!””

As they finished the chant, the red and blue gemstones began to shine brilliantly. A circle of light formed in front of them.

Youka and Miya exchanged a look and nodded before stepping into the glowing ring.

And then, the two girls vanished from the surface world.

♦

Beyond the ring of light was a space overflowing with dazzling radiance. It wasn’t the first time Youka and Miya had felt that warm, gentle light. It was here, in this very place, that they had chosen to fight as the Lightguide Princesses.

And at the center of that space stood her—the Goddess.

She was a woman with long, beautifully flowing hair the color of cherry blossoms. Draped in a dress like a veil of pure light, her lowered eyelids and serene presence gave off a divine, ethereal beauty.

Her features were fitting for one called a goddess—breathtakingly, extraordinarily beautiful. She looked just a little older than Youka and Miya, and the two of them found themselves momentarily spellbound.

“—It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Youka, Miya?”

The goddess they had been admiring—Soleil—opened her eyes and looked at them with a gentle gaze.

“Ah… I-It’s been a while, Soleil-sama!”
“Y-Yes! Soleil-sama!”

Startled by being addressed directly, Youka fumbled to respond, and Miya followed after. Soleil, noticing that the two seemed a little off, tilted her head curiously at them.

“Oh? You seem surprised. Is something the matter, you two?”
“N-No! Not at all! Nothing at all, really!”
“Y-Yes! It’s not like we were totally mesmerized because you’re just too beautiful or anything!”
“Hey, Miya!?”
“A-Ah—wait, I mean—uh, ehehe…”

Youka shot back a retort as Miya blurted out the truth. Miya looked sheepish, realizing what she’d said, and tried to laugh it off.

Soleil, now fully understanding that they had been staring in admiration, couldn’t hide her delight.

“Fufu! Oh my, is that so? I’m beautiful, am I? Of course I am! I am a goddess, after all! Which means—it really is his personality that’s twisted and his sense of aesthetics that’s broken! Serves him right!”

Soleil pressed both hands to her cheeks, grinning uncontrollably. After all, just moments ago, she had tried to show her divine beauty to a certain boy with way-too-long bangs, trying to prove she wasn’t “an old hag,” only for that boy to glance at her and say, “Still clinging to your youthful look, huh, grandma?” which had enraged her beyond measure. Honestly, it was the first time in centuries she had truly felt murderous toward a human.

But perhaps, she thought now, that boy was simply not very honest with himself. Clearly, these two girls saw her beauty for what it was. That boy must just be in that so-called “rebellious phase” of adolescence humans go through. Thinking that, she suddenly began to feel sorry for him.

“S-Soleil-sama…?”
“I-Is something wrong…?”

It was the first time either of them had seen this side of Soleil, and they didn’t know how to react.

“N-No, not at all… Ahem! Let me start over. Welcome, you two. What brings you here today?”

Just like that, Soleil swiftly returned to her usual dignified, divine expression, and smiled at them with benevolent warmth.

“Ah, yes! Actually—”

Youka then explained the reason they had come to visit Soleil.

♦

“Spriggan, you say…”

Soleil murmured solemnly after hearing Youka’s account.

“Yes. He’s the one who helped us yesterday, and that’s what he called himself.”

Youka responded to Soleil’s muttering, and Miya followed up.

“And just like Youka said, he used some strange powers. His speed and strength were inhuman too—almost like…”
“Like a Lightguide Princess?”
“…Yes.”

Miya nodded at Soleil’s pointed question. That was exactly the impression she’d had while watching him fight yesterday—he seemed just like them.

“So that’s why you came to me. To the one who grants the powers of the Lightguide Princesses to humans.”

““Yes,”” they both answered together, nodding at Soleil’s words.

They had come to see if Soleil knew anything about this Spriggan. Since he used powers resembling those of the Lightguide Princesses, they figured the goddess who bestows such power onto humans might know something.

“I see. If this ‘Spriggan’ was indeed using ‘power,’ it would be natural to think I might be involved in some way… However, I’m sorry. I don’t know of any such person.”

But Soleil’s answer wasn’t what they had hoped for.

“In fact, this is the first I’m hearing of such a suspicious individual.”

As if to definitively crush their expectations, Soleil denied their assumption outright.

“I-I see…”

Youka visibly drooped at her words. Miya also looked a little disappointed, though not as much as Youka.

“Then… who do you think Spriggan really is, Soleil-sama?”
“I honestly don’t know. But I can say with certainty; He is not a Lightguide Princess. Only women, especially maiden, can become Lightguide Princesses.”

Soleil answered Miya’s question and continued:

“He is not one of the Guardians either. Guardians may possess extraordinary physical abilities, but they do not wield the kind of special powers that Lightguide Princesses do.”
“U-Um, Soleil-sama… what are these ‘Guardians’?”

Youka tilted her head in confusion, having never heard the term before. Miya seemed unfamiliar with it as well.

“Ah, forgive me. I haven’t explained that to you yet, have I? The Guardians are, quite literally, those who protect the Lightguide Princesses.”
“Ehh!? There are people like that!?”
“We’ve never even met someone like that yet!”

Youka and Miya were both stunned at Soleil’s explanation. Neither of them had ever imagined such people existed.

“Yes, they do exist. The reason you and Miya haven’t met them yet is probably because the Dark Thralls you’ve been dealing with are low-risk.”

Soleil then went on to explain things in more detail. According to her, even the Dark Thralls have threat levels, and the ones Youka and Miya had faced so far were actually on the lower end of the spectrum. The Guardians are assigned to Lightguide Princesses who face higher-risk Dark Thralls.

The girls were once again astonished. That there were other Lightguide Princesses besides themselves. Soleil explained that, in fact, there are Lightguide Princesses all over the world, and Dark Thralls are appearing globally due to the machinations of Reizeroll.

“I… I’m so surprised, my brain’s starting to short-circuit, Miya.”
“…Same here, Youka.”

The two girls were mentally white-screening from sheer information overload.

“I’m sorry. I really should have explained all this from the start, but the circumstances of you two becoming Lightguide Princesses were a bit special.”

At the time, there had simply been no opportunity. Other pressing circumstances had gotten in the way of giving them a proper briefing.

“And regarding yesterday’s Dark Thrall—that was my mistake. It was too early for you two to be facing something like that. It seems Reizeroll tampered with its threat rating. I’m truly sorry.”

Normally, Soleil would assign Dark Thralls based on their threat level, notifying Lightguide Princesses suited to deal with them. The Dark Thralls from yesterday, according to the data Soleil had at the time, should have been manageable for Youka and Miya. But considering what actually happened, Reizeroll must have manipulated something behind the screen. Because of that, Soleil had unintentionally put the girls’ lives in danger.

“That’s not something you need to apologize for, Lady Soleil! That was our fault!”
“She’s right! …We were a little too complacent. We thought we’d be fine no matter what. But because of that, I nearly died. If Spriggan hadn’t saved me, I wouldn’t be here right now.”
“Youka…”
“That’s why, with this life he saved, I want to help more people. I won’t ever let myself get complacent again!”

Youka looked Soleil straight in the eyes and declared her resolve with unwavering strength. Seeing that, Miya must have been moved as well, for she turned to Soleil and spoke up.

“Me too—I won’t let my guard down anymore! I don’t want to lose Youka… or myself because of it!”
“You two…”

Soleil could feel their conviction—real and firm. These girls had taken on the role of Lightguide Princesses out of pure goodwill. It’s a duty that could cost them their lives, and yet they had accepted it without hesitation. And now, even after facing death itself just yesterday, they still spoke with such resolve. Seeing the sincerity in their eyes, Soleil smiled softly.

“Looks like my worries were unnecessary, after all…”

““?”” The two of them blinked in confusion, not understanding what she meant.

“…Your resolve has come through loud and clear. As for this ‘Spriggan,’ if I learn anything about him, I’ll be sure to tell you. —Youka, Miya… thank you once again for becoming Lightguide Princesses.”

Hearing those words and seeing Soleil’s gentle smile, Youka and Miya’s eyes widened—then immediately lit up with joyful smiles.

““Yes!””

♦

“…I’m sorry, both of you.”

After Youka and Miya returned to the surface, Soleil was overcome with guilt.

She had lied to them.

Soleil knew about Spriggan—knew who he truly was. After all, just before Youka and Miya had arrived, that very Spriggan, Kijou Eito, had been here.

“But no one else can know about Eito… not even them…”

Her whispered words vanished uselessly into the void. Indeed, Spriggan’s true identity must remain a secret from everyone. Especially from Reizeroll.

Eito was Soleil’s trump card. However, Soleil had one more card to oppose Reizeroll—the duo Youka and Miya.

Youka and Miya possessed the greatest potential of any Lightbearer Princesses in history. If they continued to grow and fully awaken their abilities, Soleil believed that even Reizeroll could be purified.

And protecting the two of them from the shadows, that was Eito’s role. He was their personal Guardian, with the power necessary to fulfill that role.

“…I really am the worst.”

A bitter chuckle escaped her lips at the thought of forcing children into a war. But that was something she’d known for thousands of years now.

“…At the very least, I shall pray. That’s all I can do anymore, after all.”

And so, Soleil offered up a silent prayer—for the sake of all three of them.